Remains Found Are Tentatively Identified

The remains of a woman found in July in Douglas County have been tentatively identified, and the sheriff's office says a homicide investigation is under way. A statement Thursday from the sheriff's office says the remains are believed to be those of a Myrtle Creek woman, 55-year-old Deborah Schneider, who has been missing since 2010.

The sheriff's office said she was reported to have told a friend she was considering entering an alcohol treatment center in 2010. Her family reported her missing in January 2011, saying there had been no contact with her for more than a year.

The remains were found west of Roseburg on timber company land. A search turned up evidence that included clothing. The sheriff's office said positive identification through DNA testing could take months.